A curated community board for freelance illustrators and comic creators

Weekly Roundup: February 16, 2018

Welcome to Paper Cat Press’s Weekly Roundup! In the Weekly Roundup, I provide links and summarized information about the crowdfunded projects, creator opportunities, and resources that have caught my eye over the week. I hope you enjoy!

WARNING! Some content below may feature NSFW content. Links will be marked NSFW! when the content identifies itself as adult material.

As a note: I am not sponsored by any company, group, or individual listed below or elsewhere on this site unless otherwise listed.

Take care and take your time. Your work is more important than ever. Thank you for sharing your originality and openness with the world. You bring light to the days of others, and it is so, so appreciated.

The Eisner Awards are accepting votes for the Eisner Hall of Fame as well as nominations for other Eisner Awards through March 16.

The Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award is accepting applications through May 15. Submit mock-ups of picture books featuring a diverse narrative for a chance to receive $1500 in American Express giftcards, a round trip ticket to New York, and a one-day mentorship with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers’ professional children’s book design and editorial team and distinguished Artist Mentor Grace Lin.

Recent Webcomic Debuts

Crowdfunded Projects

404 Ink and BHP Comics are currently raising funds on Kickstarter for the production of WE SHALL FIGHT UNTIL WE WIN: Pioneering Political Women. The anthology will feature creators from the UK sharing the stories of women who pioneered for women’s suffrage and rights in the UK in the last century. Tier options include digital and physical copies of We Shall Fight Until We Win, and copies of Nasty Women and The Mighty Women of Science. The Kickstarter ends on February 28.

Artist Kata Kane is running a Kickstarter to fund the printing and production of Altar Girl – Book 3. Altar Girl is an ongoing shoujo-style webcomic featuring cliques, romance, angels, and demons. Book 3 will feature chapters 7, 8, and 9 of the full-color webcomic with all-new cover art. Tier options include digital and physical copies of book 3, a physical copy of book 1, a mini comic, charms, pins, prints, and more. The Kickstarter ends on March 2.

Steve Ahn is crowdfunding on Kickstarter to fund the production of Blossom Detective Holmes: The Animated Mini-Series Project. The series aims to utilize anime aesthetics to bring crime, murder, and drama to American animation appealing to the young adult audience. The first episode of this project, Selfie with a Strange Intruder, follows detectives Skylar Holmes and Jamie as they investigate a suspicious robbery from their client. Stretch goals reached beyond the first funding goal will help fund future episodes. Tier options include digital dowloads and Blu-Ray copies of the episode, art book downloads, the soundtrack, enamel pins, acrylic stands, t-shirts, posters, prints, and more. The Kickstarter ends on March 2.

NSFW! Comic creator Tab Kimpton is raising funds on Kickstarter for the printing of The Sir, Butler and Boy Hardback Collection. Three Victorian men – a groundskeeper, a valet, and their young master – shed their social roles behind closed doors and engage in kinky, consensual activities. The hardcover collection will contain all 16 issues in over 260 pages of NSFW content. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, a mini comic short, a bookmark sticker, an enamel pin, mini cards of the original issue covers, a monogrammed handkerchief, and more. The Kickstarter ends on March 2.

Artist S-Morishita is running a Kickstarter to fund the reprinting of Love! Love! Fighting! Breaking Bad Cycles and Finding Love, the third volume of the webcomic Love! Love! Fighting! The webcomic follows Oriana as she struggles to find herself while participating in a romantic Korean tv show. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, digital copies of books 1 and 2, a new short comic, a desktop wallpaper, and more. The Kickstarter ends on March 3.

Artist Caytlin Vilbrandt is running a Kickstarter to raise funds for Tamberlane: Chapter 2 – Deluxe Edition. Tamberlane is an ongoing webcomic about Belfry, a kind-hearted bat who takes in a young abandoned creature and the complications and adventures that ensue. The printed second chapters will contain 55 pages of full-color comics and at least 25 pages of fan works and additional content. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, digital and physical copies of chapter 1, a desktop wallpaper, and more. The Kickstarter ends on March 3.

CORPUS: A Comic Anthology of Bodily Ailments is crowdfunding on Kickstarter to raise funds for its printing and fulfillment. CORPUS is an anthology project featuring 40 personal stories told over 200 full-color pages of comics covering mental and physical illness and experiences with medical care. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, an enamel pin, postcards, prints, and commissions. The Kickstarter ends on March 4.

Margins Publishing is raising funds for the printing and fulfillment of Queer Looks 1890-2018: A Fashion Zine. The project features 2 enamel pins as well as a 16-page book of illustrated queer-signalling fashion pieces. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the zine, enamel pins, and commissions. The Kickstarter ends on March 7.

Natalie Reiss and Hiveworks are raising funds to print and fulfill Snarlbear: The Complete Comic Series. To quote the author, “Snarlbear tells the journey of Daisy, a young girl pulled from Earth into the Rainbow Dimension, where she learns the value of friendship and monster punching.” Tier options includedigital and physical copies of the Snarlbear books, digital wallpapers, enamel pins, sticker sheets, postcards, commissions, and more. The Kickstarter ends on March 7.

General

Are you a Canadian writer, translator, illustrator, editor, or photographer? Do you have books in public libraries? You may be eligible to receive payment through the Public Lending Right Program! Check to see if you’re eligible and apply by May 1.

The Comic Tea Party is a weekly book club for webcomics. Participate in the Discord chat weekly on Thursdays at 5pm to 7pm PST. Sign your comic up for a chance to have it read and discussed in the group!

(Burbank, California) Nickelodeon is hiring a visual development artist, art directors, and a character designer.

(Los Angeles, California)Titmouse is looking for background painters, an After Effects animator, a line producer, and interns. They’re also seeking a 2D animator and background layout designer in Vancouver.

The Oneshi Press Quarterly Anthology accepts progressive comic and illustration work on a quarterly basis. Their next due date is March 1. Contributors are paid through quarterly royalties and surrender first right of publication and right of first refusal after publication.

Tabloid Art Zine is seeking submissions of words and/or images exploring the relationship between contemporary culture and art history until March 25. Contributors will not be paid and the zine will be available online for free.

24 Panels is accepting submissions of 24 panels or less from comic artists through March 31. They’re also seeking a comics editor! Proceeds will be donated to the mental health care of survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.

GJB Publishing is accepting applications from illustrators who live with mental health issues for Colours of the Mind through March 31.

The Silent Manga Audition‘s 9th competition event is accepting submissions through March 31. This SMA has a limit of 16 pages or less and a choice of three themes to select from. Comic submissions should be silent and without dialogue.

The European Comic Schools Contest 2018 is accepting submissions of illustrations and one-shot comics from students of European schools teaching comics, digital art, and/or illustration. Entries are due May 10. Winners may win 200-1000 €, A Wacom Intuos tablet, and copies of Clip Studio Paint.

Argot Magazine is seeking written and illustrated submissions about queer and marginalized experiences.

Conventions and Events

Con or Busthas free tickets available for people of color for a number of upcoming conventions, including the SFWA Nebua Conference, the Locus Awards weekend, and WorldCon 76! They’re also offering free digital subscriptions to Locus magazine!

Designers

I created a document where people who have skills in web design and are willing and able to assist comic creators in creating their own websites can list themselves. Feel free to add your name, examples, and prices!

Fan Zines

NSFW! The Devilman: Tribulation zine, exploring the gore and horror of the Devilman series, will be accepting applications from artists through February 16. Accepted artists will receive (2) copies of the zine.

Giant Size zine, an X-Men fan zine, is accepting submissions from artists of all skill levels through February 18. Proceeds will go to LOFT, a organization supporting LGBTQ people in Westchester County.

Human Heart: A Devilman Zine is accepting pitch submissions through February 25. The zine organizers “plan to have contributors receive free copies of the zine.”

Vibrance: A BNHA Sapphic Fanzine is accepting applications from artists and writers through March 23. Contributors will receive a free digital copy of the zine and a physical copy if the zine breaks even.

Mentorships & Fellowships

The Tulsa Artist Fellowship is accepting applications through March 1. Each year, between 5 and 15 recipients will be selected to receive a $20,000 stipend. Selected visual artists will receive free housing and studio space for visual artists, and literary artists will receive free co-working space in Tulsa, OK.

The Representation Matters Mentorship Program is accepting applications on a rolling basis from self-identified people of color interested in the publishing industry. Mentorships will last 6 months, with a minimum of one session every two months.

Scholarships, Sponsorships, and Grants

The TDC Beatrice Warde Scholarship is accepting applications from matriculating female (by birth or identified as such) bachelor’s degree students currently enrolled in their junior undergraduate year through February 23. The scholarship awards $5000 towards the tuition of a student studying typography, design, or a related field.

The Queer Press Grant is accepting applications through February 28. The selected recipient will receive $2000.

The 2018 Writing Excuses Retreat is accepting applications for their scholarships through March 12. Two Out of Excuses scholarships will be awarded to those in financial need and two Carl Brandon Society scholarships will be awarded to writers of color.

Western Washington primary and secondary school educators and librarians are invited to apply for the C4C3 Grant to bring more graphic novels and comics into the educational process.

The Creators for Creators Grant for $30,000 is accepting applications from single artists or writer/artist duos to support the creation of original comics work. Applications will be accepted through March 31.

Writing and Editing

Making Monsters is seeking short stories and poetry featuring reimagined monsters and mythology in scifi, fantasy, and horror settings through February 28.

Submissions for StArt Faire’s 24th issue are due February 28. Short stories, light novels, comics, comic mirrors, articles, and advertisement may be submitted.

Tabloid Art Zine is seeking submissions of words and/or images exploring the relationship between contemporary culture and art history until March 25. Contributors will not be paid and the zine will be available online for free.

Online monthly magazine The Dark is accepting submissions from 2000 to 6000 words in length. Encouraged genres include horror and dark fantasy, but graphic, violent horror is not desired. Payment is $0.03/word for up to 6000 words. Republishing payment is $0.01/word.

Youth

Tor Teen’s Anger Is A Gift essay contest is accepting written submissions from people aged 13 and older through April 30. Winners will receive $5000, have their essay published in Teen Ink, and receive a signed copy of Anger Is A Gift.

Ms. magazine is seeking pitches from 14-19 year old girl-identifying teens focusing on issues facing teen girls and the activism of teen girls working to solve the issue. Selected contributors will be paid $100 for their published articles.

Comics Clubhighlights and connects comic clubs and shares advice and resources to help youth comic creators.

I shared some awesome community organizers who do additional work outside of their art and comic work to provide resources to other creators like themselves. Check out this list! And if you know more, tell me about them! I’d love to hear about them 🙂

That’s it for this week! Look out for another post next week with these categories and possibly more. Is there something you’d like to see more of? Something you know about but don’t see here? Let me know!